"How... how are you two so fast?!"
Lumina didn't lift a finger, watching as Jingliu effortlessly dispatched the Abominations with a single strike of her sword.
In no time at all, the pair reached their destination.
Yanqing, arriving late, stared in disbelief at the two figures already waiting for him. Weren't they just chatting away a moment ago? How did they get so far ahead so quickly?
Could it be...? Yanqing glanced at Lumina, a sudden suspicion flashing through his mind.
Hesitation flickered in his eyes. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then clamped it shut, as if struggling to voice a thought.
After a moment, Yanqing swallowed whatever he was about to say and stepped forward to face Jingliu and Lumina.
"I concede," he declared. "However, I cannot fulfill the condition of revealing Blade's whereabouts. Please, Big Sister, reconsider your terms."
"You seem... unconvinced?" Jingliu remarked calmly, her sharp eyes piercing through Yanqing's carefully concealed frustration.
Yanqing shook his head, refuting her claim. "I'm not unconvinced."
Yet despite his denial, it would be a lie to claim Yanqing felt no frustration. He held absolute confidence in his speed and even greater confidence in his swordsmanship. Moreover, the two women had lingered behind, chatting and wasting untold amounts of time—how could he possibly lose under such circumstances?
But the outcome had been a crushing defeat, leaving him utterly helpless. Yanqing couldn't accept this result. The only explanation was Lumina's assistance. As an honored guest of the Xianzhou Luofu—a being capable of apprehending Blade with ease—her involvement would ensure victory even if Jingliu couldn't so much as grip a sword.
Yanqing thought to himself, completely forgetting the myriad injuries, large and small, he had sustained along the way from the Abominations. Or perhaps he simply hadn't noticed them at all.
"It seems you're still not convinced," Jingliu said, as if she could read Yanqing's mind. She took a step forward, a faint smile playing on her lips.
It was as if Yanqing's refusal to accept defeat had played right into Jingliu's hands.
"In that case, shall we have another match? What do you say?"
"What kind of match?" Yanqing asked, his pride piqued. He showed no hesitation. Jingliu's suggestion was exactly what he wanted.
Seeing his eagerness, Jingliu chuckled softly. "With your current strength, facing Blade would only lead to your demise."
"Rather than a swift and inevitable death, I offer you a more dignified choice: to witness my thousand-forged blade and die as a swordsman."
"What do you mean?" Yanqing frowned, a sudden sense of foreboding gripping his heart.
"Hahaha..." Jingliu's demeanor shifted, gradually becoming unsettling. Her lips curled into an incessant grin, and her entire being exuded a manic energy.
After a moment, Jingliu spoke in a hoarse voice: "Child... do you dare take my sword?"
As her words faded, an eerie silence descended upon the arena. Jingliu's overwhelming pressure erupted forth, crushing down on Yanqing.
"!"
Instantly, Yanqing felt a crushing force that made his soul tremble. Sweat poured relentlessly from his forehead as if a thousand-pound weight had been placed upon his chest, making each breath heavy and labored.
"Ah-ha... Ah-ha... Ah-ha..."
Yanqing, the Luofu's foremost swordsman, found himself terrified by the mere presence of this "wandering swordsman" he had previously scorned.
A desperate urge surged within him: I should apologize... beg her forgiveness.
Observing Yanqing's distress, Jingliu's smile widened even further.
To "take good care" of him, Jingliu slightly eased her oppressive aura, allowing Yanqing to speak and make his own decision.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine," Lumina reassured him. "My bestie here just has a strong presence. When it comes to swordsmanship, you're no match for her at all."
Seeing Jingliu's aura nearly paralyze Yanqing with fear, Lumina offered this well-meaning reminder, as if to suggest that "Little Jingliu" was merely a paper tiger.
Whether Yanqing chose to ignore Lumina or was still reeling from the earlier encounter, her words had no effect on him.
His fists clenched tightly, Yanqing's mind replayed the scene: the unparalleled pressure, the suffocating sword intent... all utterly crushing his former pride.
Before meeting Jingliu, Yanqing could never have imagined that in the realm of swordsmanship, a person could instill such despair and a sense of invincibility simply by radiating their sword intent.
But...
Yanqing bit his lip hard, as if locked in an inner struggle.
Even with only one sword, victory is still possible!
With this thought, Yanqing's face hardened with resolve. He took a step forward, his movement a clear declaration of his unwavering determination.
"Impressive courage," Jingliu said, a hint of approval in her voice as she observed Yanqing's refusal to retreat.
After nodding at Yanqing, Jingliu turned her gaze to Lumina beside her, her intent clear.
What are you still doing here? If you linger any longer, I swear I'll cut you down too!
Lumina's lips twitched involuntarily. How is it that even with your veiled eyes and unspoken words, I can instantly understand exactly what you mean...?
Is this the legendary telepathy at work? Lumina mentally grumbled, but she obeyed Jingliu's unspoken command, retreating to a safe distance to observe the duel.
With Lumina gone, Jingliu's piercing gaze returned to Yanqing, making him feel as though he were sitting on pins and needles.
Wasting no time, Jingliu conjured a massive ice sword in her hand.
She leaped into the air, her slender, graceful figure tracing a perfect arc through the moonlit sky, blending seamlessly with the lunar glow.
Jingliu lightly flicked her sword at Yanqing, unleashing a crescent-shaped blade of sword energy that hurtled toward him.
The blade was surrounded by ice crystals, radiating both danger and breathtaking beauty.
Sensing the immense power contained within the strike, Yanqing braced himself as if facing a formidable enemy, leaving him no time to appreciate its artistry.
Gritting his teeth, he formed a sword-finger with one hand and gripped his longsword with the other. Six Flying Swords continuously circled around him.
"Aaaah... Aah!"
As the sword energy drew closer, Yanqing poured every ounce of strength into unleashing his most devastating technique.
In an instant, his attack collided with the sword energy, releasing a cataclysmic surge of energy that tore apart everything in its path.
Yanqing finally shattered the sword energy... but the lingering force of the shattered strike slammed into the ground, creating a thick fog that completely enveloped him.
"I... I blocked it?" Yanqing gasped, his breathing ragged, disbelief etched across his face.
Thud... Thud... Thud...
The next moment, his sword clattered to the ground, and his body gave out completely. Yanqing collapsed unconscious.